Kansas @ Chaminade preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 23, 2015 ) Kansas 123, Chaminade 72

Kansas coach Bill Self figures he’ll know a lot more about his team following this week’s Maui Jim Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. The fifth-ranked Jayhawks begin play with a first-round matchup Monday against Chaminade.

Sophomore guard Devon Dotson averages 18.8 points per game to lead the Jayhawks, who have won three straight following a season-opening loss to Duke. Dotson scored 19 points in last Tuesday’s 75-63 win over East Tennessee State in the team’s final game before this week’s tournament, which includes Georgia, Michigan State, BYU and UCLA. “I think it’s a great opportunity to move forward to becoming a team because we’re not a team yet and nobody in America is a team yet," Self told reporters. “There’s going to be some things that happen throughout a season where you actually kind of come together and become a team, and most of those things are actually done away from home.” The Jayhawks boast an imposing frontline led by senior center Udoka Azubuike, who is averaging 12.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 76.7 percent from the field with eight blocked shots.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT KANSAS (3-1): Scoring has not been a problem for the Jayhawks, who are averaging 81.8 points and lead the Big 12 in field goal percentage (51.1 percent) and steals (10.3 per game). Senior guard Isaiah Moss is 7-of-14 from 3-point range and ranks third on the team at 10.3 points per game while 6-10 sophomore forward David McCormack is averaging 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds. Self has been encouraged by the play of 6-8 freshman guard Tristan Enaruna, who had four steals in 23 minutes against East Tennessee State and is averaging 6.3 points off the bench.

ABOUT CHAMINADE (2-0): Picked to finish third in the Pacific West Conference preseason coaches poll, the Silverswords opened with dominant wins over Alaska (90-64) and Alaska Anchorage (85-56) in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge in Anchorage. Senior wing Tyler Cartaino was named the Pacific West player of the week after averaging 20.5 points, five rebounds and four assists while shooting 66.7 percent from the field in the team’s first two games. Senior guard Kendall Small is averaging nine points and nine rebounds for the Silverswords, whose roster includes just two players listed at 6-7 or taller.

TIP-INS

1. Kansas has won all three previous meetings against Chaminade, including a 123-72 victory when the teams last met in 2005.

2. Both teams continue play in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on Tuesday against either UCLA or BYU.

3. Kansas has won two Maui Invitationals in 1996 and 2015, its last appearance in the event.

PREDICTION: Kansas 107, Chaminade 69